A flower garden of architecture. That was the phrase that popped into my head last week when I came out of the Art Institute and looked once more at the Chicago skyline.
I lived in Chicago from 1962-1972. When I arrived, the Prudential Building (One Prudential Plaza, about 8 from the right in the first panorama) was the tallest building in town. I remember riding home from my job in the Loop, sitting in the jump seat facing out the back window of the last car on the Ravenswood El and watching the cranes, which looked like giant insectoid pincers, inch their way up either side of the John Hancock Center (that big black tower second from the right in the first panorama).
Not pictured here is one of Chicago's newest, Aqua. Nor can you see the James R. Thompson Center, which reminded me of a giant veggie steamer.
In front of the JRTC stands Jean Dubuffet's Monument with Standing Beast, which in turn is only a block away from Chicago's Picasso. I remember when that one was installed. I went to visit it and was photographed in front of it by someone from Women's Wear Daily because she liked my outfit. It was something plaid left over from high school. Go figure.
Another short block away from these delights is the Goodman Theatre where I saw a production of John Logan's Red. Front row center seat. I got splashed with a few drops of enthusiastically flung water.
There's more I could write about. The Near North neighborhood where my brother lives. The South Side where I once lived. But to most people, Chicago means the Loop. Downtown. And I have to say, I love it.
